Lead Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant

Posting Number: 2023-945

UConn Health is looking for a highly skilled Lead Advance Practice Provider (APRN, NNP or PA) for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit affiliated with Connecticut Children’s. The Lead Advanced Practice Provider in charge of a group of allied health providers.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UConn Health is affiliated with Connecticut Children’s and collaborates closely with their Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the CT Children’s Neonatal and Pediatric Subspecialists.

Benefits of this position include:

• Competitive pay structures
• $10,000 sign on bonuses for outside candidates
• $2,000 annual CME
• Industry leading, affordable access to medical, dental, vision, life and retirement benefits
• Tuition waivers and reimbursements for self and dependents
• Easy access to I-84, Rte 9 and surrounding Greater Hartford communities
• Organizational culture focused on diversity and inclusion, innovation and patient experience
• State of the art, award winning campus environment with ideal parking

SCHEDULE: Full time, 40 hours per week, 12 and 24 hour shifts with weekend and holiday commitment. Clinical shifts depending on unit needs. 24 hour accountability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The essential functions of the Lead Advance Practice Provider will fall into three categories: Clinical Oversight and Leadership; Administration; and Internal/External Regulatory Issues.

Clinical Oversight and Leadership:

• Co-direct the clinical, operational and administrative initiatives with the Medical Director, practice manager, and nursing management team
• Conduct regularly scheduled meetings with the staff Advance Practice Providers.
• Ensure clinical competency and adherence to policy through practice analysis and case review of Advance Practice Providers. With Physicians
• Investigate and respond to patient/family concerns from patients and families about care
• Lead the orientation of new staff Advance Practice Providers.
• Provide education to staff Advance Practice Providers.
• Participate as a representative in hospital-wide committees within UConn Health and Connecticut Children’s
• Serve as a representative on the professional and evaluation committees
• Support NICU Team and Clinical Support Services Education
• Serve as a collaborator partner for NICU within Connecticut Children’s System and University of Connecticut System

Administration:

• Review and participate in financial planning and issues for the service

• Participate in the hiring, evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and discipline of staff Advance Practice Providers.
• Investigate and resolve operational issues
• Coordinate quality improvement/process improvement programs
• Coordinate the scheduling of the Advance Practice Providers.
• All other duties as assigned

Internal and External Regulatory Issues:

• Ensure compliance and participate in Medical Staff Office initiatives, policies, and procedures
• Be informed of and advocate for practice models that allow clinicians to practice to the fullest extent of their scope and practice
• Participate in regional and national discussions that affect Advance Practice Providers.practice
• Work with hospital operations in regards to funding/billing/reimbursement models
• Participate in the health policy issues affecting advanced practice care

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
Considerable knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of advanced nursing and therapeutic models in area of specialty; knowledge of pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice; knowledge of different disciplines and disease states; counseling skills; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; skill in performing specialty specific invasive procedures; ability to effectively assess physical and psychosocial conditions; ability to work independently; ability to work under pressure; ability to formulate appropriate treatment plans; decision making ability; ability to lead others and to work cooperatively in a team environment.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Provides preventive and acute care in area of specialty
• Assesses and diagnoses patient condition and develops and implements treatment plan in collaboration with designated physician
• Administers treatments, performs physical examinations, and researches medical histories
• Orders laboratory and diagnostic test and interprets results
• Prescribes, administers, and dispenses medications and other treatments
• Provides patient/family education and counseling
• Maintains patient health information records
• Coordinates treatment and makes appropriate referrals to other health care providers as necessary and monitors patient’s outcomes
• Maintains safety, infection control and quality of care standards
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team
• Assists in the development of policies/procedures
• Participates in or designs changes in the system of care delivery
• Participates in clinical research and services in various program areas through teaching and education
• Acts as a clinical consultant/resource to peers and other health care professionals within or outside the institution
• Performs related duties as required

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Certified Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant and one (1) year of experience working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Incumbents in this class must possess either a valid license to practice Advance Nursing in the State of Connecticut or valid Physician Assistant license in the State of Connecticut.
• Incumbents must maintain certification as a Neonatal Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant, as appropriate to their title..
• Demonstrated applicable work experience in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. May have worked as an RN in the specialty.

MINIMUM ANNAUL SALARY: $127,150, more based on experience

COVID VACCINE POLICY
All Workforce Members are required to have or obtain a COVID 19 vaccination and booster as a term and condition of employment to work in a UConn Health facility, unless an exemption deferral has been approved. All new Workforce Members shall be required to provide proof of their vaccine status prior to the start of their employment. All records of vaccinations and approved exemptions will be maintained by Employee Health Services. Additional information regarding this policy may be found at https://health.uconn.edu/covid-provider/mandatory-vaccination/

Why UConn Health
UConn Health is a vibrant, integrated academic medical center that is entering an era of unprecedented growth in all three areas of its mission: academics, research, and clinical care. A commitment to human health and well-being has been of utmost importance to UConn Health since the founding of the University of Connecticut schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine in 1961. Based on a strong foundation of groundbreaking research, first-rate education, and quality clinical care, we have expanded our medical missions over the decades. In just over 50 years, UConn Health has evolved to encompass more research endeavors, to provide more ways to access our superior care, and to innovate both practical medicine and our methods of educating the practitioners of tomorrow.